Working towards a slavery-free city
Claire Walford
How Christians in Plymouth are involved in grassroots anti-slavery action and the city-wide strategy.
Mark Oliver is the pastor of Plymstock Chapel, an independent evangelical church on the edge of Plymouth. As well as leading the church, he spends time working with young people in the local schools, chairing Churches Together in Plymouth and working closely with Plymouth City Council on a number of city-wide social initiatives.
Mark learnt about modern slavery many years ago and the horror of it stayed with him. He knew that, as a Christian, the church could play a part in helping serve victims of modern slavery and raising awareness of the issue.
Two practical actions
At his church, Plymstock Chapel, they asked the local police and council if there was anything practical they could do to help. They were made aware of the need for safe spaces for victims of modern slavery to go in the immediate aftermath of a police raid.
Mark explains: “Sometimes the police, working on intelligence, will raid a building and find people who are victims of modern slavery that they need to take somewhere. They found that if they took them to a police station, the individuals became even more frightened and wouldn’t open up. Alternatively, if they put multiple victims in one room and unbeknown to the police, there was somebody amongst them who was the instigator, the victims would again be too scared to speak up in front of them. They needed a safe space with multiple rooms so we started offering our church building. They knew our phone number and could simply ring and ask us to open the building to support victims found in a particular raid. Our church was more friendly than a police station and we were able to offer tea and coffee and a toilet. It didn’t require much manpower from the church other than opening up the building.
“One night, the police rang and we unlocked the building and a dozen Romanian agriculture workers who had been living in a lock up just 300 yards away, were brought to the church. Plymstock is a lovely suburb and it was quite a shock to discover modern slavery taking place just around the corner.
“In the last few months, we’ve been in touch with the council to update the list of churches around the city that can be used as safe spaces. There's a list of phone numbers to ring if they need a church building opened at short notice – we now have six churches signed up!"
“The other service we are exploring with the police is providing translators for victims of modern slavery. Across our churches, there are lots of people who speak different languages and this is a clear way in which we could make a difference. Church volunteer translators wouldn't be allowed to help with the legal side of the process, for example translating the taking of statements, but they could help reassure someone and offer a cup of tea while police translators travel to Plymouth, something that can take many hours.”
These are two practical, and non-demanding, ways in which the church in Plymouth is working alongside the Police and council. Mark sees huge potential for the church as a whole to be at the forefront of anti-slavery work in the city.
Mobilising Christians
Mark shares his vision: “as the chair of Churches Together in Plymouth, I have the privilege of seeing the numerous ways in which the church is serving and impacting the city. Through food banks, the work of the street pastors and organisations such as Transforming Plymouth Together, there is much to be encouraged about. I see loneliness being tackled, poverty and food hunger being reduced, toddlers cared for and young people mentored. I see light shining in the darkness and it inspires me. Whether it’s through the church or people in the police and the council who are working for the good of many, to me, it's the kingdom of God coming.”
Mark also sees the potential of educating and mobilising Christians across Plymouth: “there are a lot of Christians in the city. If we can educate them about modern slavery and get posters on bathroom doors in churches across the city, there is a big groundswell of people who can help with identifying modern slavery. As we educate our churches, it will link up with what the police and council are doing.”
A place at the table
As Mark has got more involved through his Churches Together in Plymouth role, he has been invited to join various multi-agency groups including the Plymouth Anti-Slavery Partnership. The church wasn't always represented on all these committees and now there is huge openness and desire for greater involvement. In fact, Mark has been asked to chair an independent advisory group which will act as a “critical friend” to the modern slavery and PREVENT work that the Council is pioneering. In addition, the council has recently set up a modern slavery board which meets quarterly, trying to bring together everybody who is involved in anti-slavery action and the church has been invited to be a part of that.
Mark adds: “Wonderfully, there's an open door at the council. They’re actively inviting the church to get involved — saying to us, ‘bring your buildings, your youth workers, and your congregations; we want you to be part of this.’”
This is an exciting time for anti-slavery action in Plymouth. Mark explains: “We are really thrilled that The Clewer Initiative and Caritas is organising a modern slavery event in October. It is such perfect timing. The church, The Clewer Initiative and other charities are working with the authorities and it is wonderful to see. I have started dreaming of a slavery free city. It doesn’t feel beyond our reach. And it is extremely strategic – because of the docks, most trafficked people in the southwest come through Plymouth so if we target modern slavery in Plymouth, we can really disrupt what is happening across the region.”
In October, The Clewer Initiative is also providing modern slavery training for people involved with night shelters and other frontline projects - another way in which volunteers in the city are being equipped to identify and respond to modern slavery and exploitation.
Lessons learnt
Mark concludes: “Relationships are key. I would encourage church leaders to go to their councils and the police and say, “we want to serve you” and “we care about this”. The authorities are not always aware of what an incredible resource the church is – for example, we have 100 buildings across Plymouth and thousands of people who care about the city and this can be tapped into. The church is such an asset! Also being able to offer something practical can open a door to a relationship, which can go further.
“It’s important not to think about promoting yourself or your church or caring about who gets the glory. If we have the right attitude, there's an open door for the church to be part of city-wide anti-slavery action and we can do and offer things that others can’t.”
What can other cities and towns learn from Mark’s story?
- Offer your spaces to local statutory services
- Map out the national and linguistic diversity of the church - it might be an asset!
- Think about how you can strengthen relationships with the police and local authorities - what city-wide committees or groups could you offer to serve on; how else could you raise awareness or affect change?
- Dream about the church's role in bringing change in the community, and becoming cities permeated with true freedom!
If you live in the region, please consider coming to our Modern Slavery event in October. Entitled See, Speak, Act: Faith in Action Against Modern Slavery, it will be held on Wednesday 14 October 2026, 1.00–5.15pm at Plymouth Methodist Central Hall. Sign up here.
